Sydney Avey

The sweep of history makes us glad of progress in some areas (most notably, medicine and opportunities for women to use their educations) and sad for the losses growth has wrought. We might well mourn the passing of intimate family and community ties that a slower pace of life fostered.

I try to think of myself as a gypsy who travels light, carries only the essentials, and maintains the same disciplined routine wherever. But sometimes you have to live in the disruptive moments that life hands you.

I never met my great grandmother but I inherited her short stories, a collection she titled Leaves from a Reporter’s Notebook. Her stories were dramatic, funny, and, if not true in fact, true to the times and worth the telling.

Writers who take time to playfully consider their words twinkle like stars in a black night. Through their choice of words they offer unique perspectives on troubling issues, clear explanations of difficult concepts, and deep appreciation for life’s connective tissue.